Association between HLA antigens and early onset periodontitis

HLA-A, B, C and DR antigen frequencies were determined in a group of patients with juvenile periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis. In juvenile periodontitis patients, HLA-A24 and DR4 were found at a significantly higher level than in the control group, and in rapidly progressive periodontitis patients, A9 and DR4 were found at a significantly higher level than the control group. The presence of these antigens gives evidence as to the susceptibility of various forms of early onset periodontitis.